tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:46:08 +0000life lately.the world.oregonbeautyfor the love of musicquotation inspiration.artawareness.communityfood musings.simplicity.greenphotographs to love.new york cityrecent finds.people who inspirecreativitywisdomlinks to check outbicyclestraveldocumentariesprojectsdesign.recipesbooksfunmeatless mondaybrooklynbrunchglamourhealthy livingthings to love.yogacocktailsFor A Life Inspireda lifestyle blog from brooklyn.http://www.foralifeinspired.com/noreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)Blogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-8116501665883491418Mon, 15 Sep 2014 14:22:00 +00002014-11-22T07:31:47.333-08:00Wisdom for Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="tr_bq"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5qMzXvLUn5g/VHCoYG_n-2I/AAAAAAAAC74/9CkHZTJJD_k/s1600/IMG_4574.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">So I suppose the best piece of advice I could give anyone is pretty simple: get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house. Do you think you’d care so very much about those things if you developed an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast while in the shower.</blockquote><blockquote>Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over the dunes, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over a pond and a stand of pines. Get a life in which you pay attention to the baby as she scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb and first finger.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>Turn off your cell phone. Turn off your regular phone, for that matter. Keep still. Be present.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>Get a life in which you are generous. Look around at the azaleas making fuchsia star bursts in spring; look at a full moon hanging silver in a black sky on a cold night. And realize that life is glorious, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take the money you would have spent on beers in a bar and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Tutor a seventh-grader.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>All of us want to do well. But if we do not do good, too, then doing well will never be enough.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won’t happen. We have to teach ourselves how to make room for them, to love them, and to live, really live.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>[…]&nbsp;This is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>-<a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/03/11/a-short-guide-to-a-happy-life-anna-quindlen/">A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlin via Brainpicker.</a></blockquote><div><br />I have been dwelling on these words all week. They sound so simple on paper but can become such a challenge to seek and maintain in order to live by. Perhaps the goal is less to achieve this awareness but simply to try (and sometimes to fight) to realize more of this each and every day. It is so easy to get lost in the busyness of life that I need constant reminders to choose to be present and teach myself how to fully live these moments. Hope this serves as a reminder for you, too.&nbsp;</div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/10/wisdom-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-4106112944699585986Sat, 06 Sep 2014 13:56:00 +00002014-11-22T07:31:12.606-08:00healthy livingrecipesSmoothie Kick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnAVVU1jsBU/U3YTaHWAAtI/AAAAAAAACUw/L2wJ4kkT7Eg/s1600/smoothie3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnAVVU1jsBU/U3YTaHWAAtI/AAAAAAAACUw/L2wJ4kkT7Eg/s1600/smoothie3.JPG" height="397" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinach, avocado, banana, almond milk &amp; chia seeds</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lately I have developed a new obsession. I realized I was spending too much money on smoothies that seemed simple enough for me to make, so I picked up a blender and I've been making smoothies nearly every morning for the past 3 weeks. It was such a challenge to find a healthy go-to breakfast that would even come close to giving me a chance to make it until lunch, but these smoothies are packed full of fiber and protein I am amazed at how filling they are.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I started to look into the benefits of superfoods, stocked up on ingredients from there, and have been experimenting with variations every morning. In all of them I use a base of either a banana or avocado for a creamy texture, handful of spinach or kale for a green boost, and unsweetened almond milk as the liquid. I may add frozen blueberries if I have them, a scoop of almond butter, or handful of raw cashews. From there I add any mix of the following:<br /><br /><a href="http://navitasnaturals.com/product/457/Maca-Raw-.html" target="_blank">Maca Powder </a>- Maca is an amazing source of natural energy and is high in B vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It has adaptogenic properties which keep your body cope with stress and maintain hormonal balance.<br /><br /><a href="http://nutiva.com/chia-seeds/" target="_blank">Chia Seeds</a> - I started making <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/recipes/1016254/chia-seed-breakfast-pudding.html" target="_blank">Chia Seed pudding</a> a while back, but I am still not crazy about the texture of it. Adding it to smoothies is a great way to get the benefit of this powerful seed, which is another source of natural energy. These small seeds pack 40 percent of the daily recommended amount of fiber in one serving and actually have more Omega-3 fatty acids per ounce than salmon!<br /><br /><a href="http://navitasnaturals.com/product/439/Cacao-Nibs.html" target="_blank">Cacao Nibs</a> - Made from pure cacao beans, cacao nibs are the source of all those antioxidant benefits I so easily reference to justify eating more dark chocolate. They are actually one of the most antioxidant-rich foods in the world and also significantly high in fiber. They are a great source of magnesium--which helps relax your nervous system and get better sleep (read: helps you relax!).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/nutiva-organic-hemp-protein-50-16-oz-powder/yr-1014?sourceType=sc&amp;source=FG&amp;adGroup=40-60&amp;keyword=YR-1014&amp;cm_mmc=Google+Shopping-_-Product+Listing+Ads-_-40-60-_-YR-1014&amp;gclid=CPbMiaCGs74CFW4R7AodUgIAIQ&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds#.U3diEVhdVsg" target="_blank">Hemp Protein </a>- This is an easy to digest and earth-friendly protein that also contains Omega fatty acids to help reduce inflammation in the body.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-extra-virgin-certified-organic-coconut-oil-54-fl-oz-21" target="_blank">Coconut Oil</a> - Don't be deceived by the fat content, the fatty acids in coconut oil can actually help you lose or maintain weight and provide great benefits for overall heart and brain health. It is also great for use on your skin as a moisturizer! I use it daily after showering and at night to remove eye makeup.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-whole-food-spirulina-superfood-algae-powder-3000-mg-16-oz-1-lb-454-g-1/?prSrching=0" target="_blank">Spirulina </a>- &nbsp;This blue-green algae is a nutritional powerhouse and high in protein and antioxidants. It is very high in chlorophyll which helps the body get rid of toxins and boosts immunity. I admit I am still talking myself into this one (to no surprise, algae tastes as it sounds)--so I only add a small amount.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-NS8u9hElib4%2FU3YTaB-BHSI%2FAAAAAAAACU4%2FqafPZ2GnrJg%2Fs1600%2FSmoothie1.JPG&amp;container=blogger&amp;gadget=a&amp;rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NS8u9hElib4/U3YTaB-BHSI/AAAAAAAACU4/qafPZ2GnrJg/s1600/Smoothie1.JPG" height="400" width="397" /></a></div><br />My favorite combination so far has been this one shown above: handful of baby spinach, 1 whole frozen banana, 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries, 1 tablespoon of almond butter, 2 tablespoons of cacao nibs, 1 teaspoon of maca powder, 1tablespoon of hemp protein, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and 1 teaspoon coconut oil.<br /><br />It is much easier than I thought it would be to make smoothies every morning and it is such a great way to start the day. I've actually found myself going mornings without coffee as these are so packed-full of energy. Blasphemous, I know.</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/10/smoothie-kick.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-7552711561983256360Mon, 01 Sep 2014 20:38:00 +00002014-11-22T07:30:46.870-08:00Upstate New York <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r3uPgGjrarg/VAyE3eu6icI/AAAAAAAAC1E/lypRFkdRPac/s1600/IMG_2627.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WQL_cPZTy9A/VAyE3vE5zqI/AAAAAAAAC1I/8YNKbGReEKQ/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ca48Pz0jPck/VAyFkbxoWhI/AAAAAAAAC28/cGbY1OyWLbk/s1600/IMG_2731.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rRCy5JauMk/VAyFJhjj9hI/AAAAAAAAC10/4w3OK9uS6I0/s1600/IMG_2670.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MrLNDOeez-Y/VAyFM0ZvuyI/AAAAAAAAC2E/u8wsP-sKlt0/s1600/IMG_2678.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7CckRNl8CI/VAyFbgAfgaI/AAAAAAAAC20/SP_nen_Rcz8/s1600/IMG_2707.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KL66xWiM-BU/VAyFql1mriI/AAAAAAAAC3c/hNRPK06XefM/s1600/IMG_2781.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tv-86a9ZaZw/VAyFs6xOwDI/AAAAAAAAC30/62CrEMAzT-8/s1600/hike2.tiff" height="318" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Ggq7gNzVAA/VAyFrQwQJDI/AAAAAAAAC3k/DZ-c4EgDueQ/s1600/hike.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1QVk3qCHYs/VAyFowGk5sI/AAAAAAAAC3U/8_bu3ObwAf4/s1600/IMG_2771.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><br />Living in the city is wonderful. The access to art, great food, culture, and music is unparalleled while the collective energy of the city can be a constant source of inspiration. Yet it is all the more necessary to escape the city, to view expansive landscapes, to breathe fresh air, to slow down and notice the details of nature and all she has to offer.<br /><br />“We need the tonic of wildness...At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” -Thoreau</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/09/upstate-new-york.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-676152738826964428Sat, 21 Jun 2014 15:17:00 +00002014-11-22T07:29:26.553-08:00JR at the Park Slope Farmer's Market<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0qqhZqs8Ur0/U4xlhjyZmpI/AAAAAAAACkQ/AjL_HNxUEss/s1600/IMG_1053.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_7lgL82To-A/U4xljN47oeI/AAAAAAAACkg/SHKiwPsoi2Q/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><br />I have been keeping a tab on <a href="http://www.insideoutproject.net/en" target="_blank">JR's Inside Out Project</a> for a while now, after seeing an<a href="http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2011/10/jr-in-brooklyn.html" target="_blank"> installation of photos a few years ago in DUMBO</a>. It is such a beautiful project created to share stories and connect communities, despite different backgrounds, races, religions, way of dress, or whatever else can become reason to divide us. I was delighted to see the project come to Park Slope's Middle School 51, overlooking my favorite neighborhood Sunday Farmer's Market. The walls of the school are now covered by 74 portraits of kids, creating a powerful reflection and celebration of the diversity and personality of the school itself. You can learn more about the project and discover how to participate<a href="http://www.insideoutproject.net/en/participate" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A-rQcgSvz14/U4xljaE27ZI/AAAAAAAACkk/4W_KK8IMWDA/s1600/IMG_1060.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2iU7sOohm80/U4xlj2__qlI/AAAAAAAACks/RAXS-PTt688/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ileewo4dAZg/U4xllYISccI/AAAAAAAAClI/i8nEJe982eU/s1600/IMG_1064.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zF3sClDHnMs/U4xlmXNV9AI/AAAAAAAAClY/mOy351zwNmw/s1600/IMG_1069.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-esEwFrj-gx4/U4xll3sjrQI/AAAAAAAAClM/erRDbQnrVa4/s1600/IMG_1068.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ifSoUk3z_os/U4xlnNRVfRI/AAAAAAAAClg/SIVn0olrBr0/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/06/jr-at-park-slope-farmers-market.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-7286820024495954061Thu, 05 Jun 2014 11:26:00 +00002014-06-05T04:26:54.487-07:00Beacon Day Trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTNuwDKvMYU/U4xk-l8ldRI/AAAAAAAACkE/THpum2AVwis/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-hqNO-ntPQ/U4xiTa0UZoI/AAAAAAAACiY/fQDQxdXMN_8/s1600/IMG_1006.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOZIP8gAK_U/U4xiVnPRR-I/AAAAAAAACig/ahBW8FVzp-Q/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJNv5_8_TS4/U4xiZlSGqkI/AAAAAAAACi8/kbFdLDkvGH4/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" height="426" width="640" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eHas1JkzY_Y/U4xiWPBGADI/AAAAAAAACik/7Vr7gwiCXAg/s1600/IMG_1012.jpg" height="498" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1P2JDubu1Q/U4xj8atT14I/AAAAAAAACjk/58uOiGf3tqQ/s1600/IMG_1034.jpg" height="498" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-llycL9I6NUg/U4xidWaijeI/AAAAAAAACjI/NTp89t2Dqq4/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br />Last Saturday we took a day trip to Beacon, New York in the Hudson Valley. I had been wanting to get up to the <a href="http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/beacon" target="_blank">Dia:Beacon Art Museum</a> for a while now and was so excited to have a beautiful free day to do it. The &nbsp;85 minute train ride from Grand Central is an event in itself--the trip runs along the Hudson River providing amazing views of Englewood Cliffs, West Point, and Bear Mountain. Beacon lies right past the Breakneck Ridge Trail, which is also a fun day trip outside of the city.<br /><br />Mike and I walked from the train to Main Street, a quaint strip of artisinal cheese shops, creameries, art galleries, and restaurants. We had lunch at Max's on Main before walking back towards the river to get to the museum. The <a href="http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/beacon" target="_blank">Dia:Beacon</a>&nbsp;is definitely a must see for contemporary art fans. The museum itself was so spacious and bright and it was a relief not to be in a museum where you are bumping into people like in so many great museums in the NYC. There is a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/30/arts/design/carl-andres-epic-sculptures-united-at-diabeacon.html?_r=0" target="_blank">wonderful exhibit of Minimalist Sculptor Carl Andre</a> on display and amazing large steel sculptures by Richard Serra that I was blown away by as I walked through them.<br /><br />For a refreshing and fascinating day out of the city, I definitely recommend making the trip up to Beacon!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_iXlVDnjnUM/U4xj-M58npI/AAAAAAAACjw/BhOv_VBFpTs/s1600/IMG_1033.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></div><br /><br /></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/06/beacon-day-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-2661827074016326401Wed, 28 May 2014 21:08:00 +00002014-05-28T14:08:32.600-07:00life lately.Memorial Day in Ocean City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_6rhnLWmVI8/U4XV9A0tO5I/AAAAAAAACf8/S4Z0wddhfBU/s1600/IMG_0975.jpg" height="460" width="300" /><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oYsOzapXDvw/U4XV1FzvevI/AAAAAAAACfs/ojRb5TVRH-Y/s1600/IMG_0897.jpg" height="460" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past weekend Mike's family hosted a couples' wedding shower for us at their beach house in Ocean City, NJ. My family came down from Connecticut and our friends from Brooklyn made the trip down as well, and it was amazing to have everyone together. I have been so thankful to see our families blend so seamlessly and have such a fun time with each other. It is so easy to get caught up in the planning of the wedding day itself that this weekend was a welcomed pause to celebrate and be grateful for the great community of friends and family we have supporting us. Not to mention how wonderful it was to be able to spend time outdoors by the beach on such a beautiful weekend! Hope you had a great Memorial Day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVDXp3abteg/U4XVYOiO_9I/AAAAAAAACeQ/8E-oIlMA_iM/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" height="212" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g--G-exIh5I/U4XVXw_os9I/AAAAAAAACeM/Fwc0vRSukWI/s1600/IMG_0842.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PLiAmFQ9l70/U4XVYJy3uwI/AAAAAAAACeU/FEd7X6t66Hg/s1600/IMG_0854.JPG" height="416" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zs2I97-rORE/U4XVe_02YlI/AAAAAAAACes/Gcq2mbKj2Oc/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zCtfSgU3Xdc/U4XVplVUorI/AAAAAAAACfI/ar_3TF5ilnA/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" height="212" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UE1Phg3lyK8/U4XVwlrTUaI/AAAAAAAACfU/F_r4smjuBGY/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fa-vWnE3Ops/U4XbfshJmeI/AAAAAAAAChs/n8SabJdwazA/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" height="426" width="640" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtGS4jHwMCE/U4XV86U6-rI/AAAAAAAACgA/RkXLJZiEW_0/s1600/IMG_0991.jpg" height="482" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acYwRtRVCwU/U4XWCsLu_6I/AAAAAAAACgQ/NC9vETQkatw/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" height="482" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffj6ZNiWHxg/U4XWHpA6lpI/AAAAAAAACgk/aA8z5b9LH1c/s1600/IMG_0943.JPG" height="426" width="640" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38Vv0guPVkc/U4XWH1kqv7I/AAAAAAAACgo/M4E1UyYtY9Y/s1600/IMG_0942.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaZpeZHqylQ/U4XWMDK5spI/AAAAAAAACg0/X7xUQRp-91M/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-beUCDIu1nZ8/U4XWMPnQ12I/AAAAAAAACg8/u5-qTW-zbZo/s1600/IMG_0953.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4THkOprTpf0/U4XWMKjWPII/AAAAAAAACg4/JTKQscAd2rc/s1600/IMG_0954.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/05/memorial-day-in-ocean-city.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-5340135966179692063Tue, 27 May 2014 18:32:00 +00002014-05-27T16:36:55.813-07:00awareness.communitydocumentariesfood musings.healthy livingmeatless mondayFed Up Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aCUbvOwwfWM" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few years ago there was an article in the New York Times entitled "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0" target="_blank">Is Sugar Toxic?</a>" It was the first I had read of sugar's significant contribution not only to obesity and diabetes but other chronic conditions including heart disease and cancer. I later read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Blues-William-Dufty/dp/0446343129" target="_blank">Sugar Blues</a> by William Duffy and was shocked to discover the extent to which sugar is poisonous to our bodies. It was alarming to me how much factual and historical evidence of the danger of sugar exists and yet how little is done to diminish its presence in practically everything marketed and sold to us on a daily basis.<br /><br />I was thrilled to learn of the new film, Fed Up, which seeks to change all of this by bringing an awareness to just how bad sugar is with a call to action to do something about it. The film includes interviews with real-food pioneers Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman--bringing a reputable team together to place a spotlight on the corporate food industry and the government's role in the obesity and diabetes epidemics in America.<br /><br />The film also has sparked the Fed Up Challenge of going sugar-free for ten days. It is truly amazing to realize how prevalent added sugar can be in unexpected items once you start paying attention to labels--especially as sugar can masquerade itself with&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/sugarnames" target="_blank">56 differen</a><a href="http://bit.ly/sugarnames" target="_blank">t&nbsp;names.</a>&nbsp;I started the challenge today along with a few friends from work and we have agreed it already is eye-opening to realize how addictive sugar is now that we are focused on going without it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm starting the mornings with smoothies to up my protein intake to help cut sugar cravings and have planned out my meals ahead of time, using <a href="http://kriscarr.com/blog-video/kris-carr-crazy-sexy-meal-plan/" target="_blank">Kris Carr's helpful meal plan</a>&nbsp;to ensure I have healthy snacks on hand and meals from ingredients without hidden sugars.&nbsp;Last night I made these delicious and filling v<a href="http://www.sproutedkitchen.com/home/2014/5/8/vegetable-quinoa-burgers.html" target="_blank">egetable quinoa burgers from Sprouted Kitchen</a>&nbsp;to have for lunch for the week. I am thankful to have this challenge to be extra intentional with what I am eating over the next ten days and am excited to be doing it alongside so many other people who have been inspired by the film. You can learn more about Fed Up and sign up for the challenge <a href="http://fedupmovie.com/#/page/fedupchallenge" target="_blank">here</a>!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41eKBe-Xjxg/U4ScmziaFhI/AAAAAAAACdo/FKLq8C4YVOI/s1600/burger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-41eKBe-Xjxg/U4ScmziaFhI/AAAAAAAACdo/FKLq8C4YVOI/s1600/burger.JPG" height="400" width="397" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade veggie burgers!</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/05/fed-up-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-4584454642015861975Fri, 23 May 2014 20:39:00 +00002014-05-28T05:23:09.870-07:00for the love of musicMusic for Your Summer Kick-Off<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL29UVAAbA0/U4XU7PYP3uI/AAAAAAAACd8/8dXqXwwVEtQ/s1600/IMG_0414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL29UVAAbA0/U4XU7PYP3uI/AAAAAAAACd8/8dXqXwwVEtQ/s1600/IMG_0414.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHz_aVMmBSE/U4XU7yNmg0I/AAAAAAAACeA/TWC60H17aMI/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHz_aVMmBSE/U4XU7yNmg0I/AAAAAAAACeA/TWC60H17aMI/s1600/IMG_0432.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooklyn Botanical Gardens</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We made it! I have been looking forward to the start of this summer with more anticipation than usual, as I am getting married in September and thus the summer is full of pre-wedding fun. This weekend we are heading down to Ocean City, NJ to celebrate with our families and bridal party. In the past few months of planning the wedding itself has seemed far-off and almost not quite real. Now that we are less than four months away things are starting to change--it will be an exciting summer!<br /><br />The playlist below is for road-trips, beach days, picnics in the park, and everything else you have planned for the warm months ahead. Have a wonderful long weekend!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:122713156:playlist:1mTiZN4pTin9XWgqcsSeDH" width="300"></iframe></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/05/music-for-your-summer-kick-off.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-8818950670674840225Thu, 22 May 2014 15:15:00 +00002014-05-22T14:59:27.888-07:00brooklynfunlife lately.new york cityProspect Park Surprise Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFSCZdqJw-0/U31oC_0bt5I/AAAAAAAACas/tS4EGBAukes/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday we threw a surprise gathering in the park for our good friend Pat in honor of his birthday. After this long winter, I am not alone in trying to get in as much time outdoors in the park as I can. Prospect Park has a renewed energy to it in the Spring, as the collective gratitude for sun and fresh air is palpable among all of us who have been cooped up hiding from the cold for too long. Champagne, balloons and Frisbees in hand, a group of us hid out in the park to surprise Pat. Our awkward ducking may not have been the smoothest per-say, but he was surprised nonetheless!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8peerPB1IrU/U31nhmEktvI/AAAAAAAACZU/1QJ3aeGL3PU/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gD3EJme1zqk/U31nkdTt9lI/AAAAAAAACZc/NKG3K0jNfzc/s1600/IMG_0458.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xs767Biaqx0/U31nmspoJQI/AAAAAAAACZk/pPFtXcZ-vk0/s1600/IMG_0461.JPG" height="426" width="640" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bjWRiAHnYm4/U31npkImLfI/AAAAAAAACZs/t9o396dzHBc/s1600/IMG_0474.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCQzIwAdKd0/U31ntMtBceI/AAAAAAAACZ0/4ylLRpp4zso/s1600/IMG_0487.jpg" height="479" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uy7yYDpAHiI/U31nxmlJWPI/AAAAAAAACaE/1HfGd1RUIRQ/s1600/IMG_0493.jpg" height="479" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8hdkCy6PMvw/U31nvUUvY6I/AAAAAAAACZ8/r-YkEWtSYKw/s1600/IMG_0490.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jSzGDQobOXo/U31n3sEQkYI/AAAAAAAACaM/9tC2zB1H7mo/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VvDQRxOHcR4/U31n6ySqEqI/AAAAAAAACac/gB8vRtUf0Nc/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG" height="426" width="640" /><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SqPvdLT8B5Q/U31obuG4T_I/AAAAAAAACbE/sPQBqbHIc_g/s1600/IMG_0679.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3_l69mGgpM/U31on-QFcsI/AAAAAAAACbk/AH3IEk91Duk/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" height="225" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsAxDddFdfI/U31oqf4XZsI/AAAAAAAACbs/T9tCaGGbOrA/s1600/IMG_0746.JPG" height="225" width="325" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tylz-4uqcFA/U31ozNjbfkI/AAAAAAAACb4/bS0ZF5hsQUU/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f22WIhU50tQ/U31ozETc1CI/AAAAAAAACb0/anTI-RAlals/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/05/prospect-park-surprise-party.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-8376234230414980613Wed, 21 May 2014 21:20:00 +00002014-05-21T20:36:22.348-07:00artbrooklyndocumentariesnew york cityAi Weiwei at The Brooklyn Museum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKeQE-Cop8Y/U3tBFzomZNI/AAAAAAAACWk/wo-7m_raX_0/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br />This past weekend we went to go see <a href="http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ai_weiwei/">Ai Weiwei's exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum</a>. If you have the chance to get to Brooklyn this summer, you can't miss it. After seeing the 2012 documentary on Ai's life and work, <a href="http://aiweiweineversorry.com/">Never Sorry</a>, I have been fascinated by his unwavering perseverance to use his art to stand up to the Chinese government and the injustices around him. An activist in the truest sense of the word, he has used his platform to tell the stories of those who have no voice--doing so despite incarceration, constant surveillance, a brain injury, and multiple attempts from the government to censor him. The exhibit contains installations from a twenty-year span of his work in different mediums including film, photography, sculpture and architecture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLxKVDG1TxA/U30ZdS5vJWI/AAAAAAAACZE/jFz0Y02Q3Rw/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><div><div>Every piece tells a powerful story, such as the installation above. This work is 73 tons of steel bars Ai recovered from the rubble of the poorly-built schools that collapsed after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake left almost 90,000 people dead or missing--5,000 of which were schoolchildren. The bars are surrounded by a room of walls which list the name and ages of all who were lost in the quake, while audio pays overhead of people reading the names aloud.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DoQHqoLeUTc/U3tA6AKLnCI/AAAAAAAACWI/8eTmbVturRA/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The room above contains “Ye Haiyan’s Belongings,” so named for a women's' rights and AIDS activist who was left on the side of the street with her daughter along with everything she owned as a response from the Chinese government to her efforts. The wallpaper is comprised of photographs of every item she owned documented by Ai's team, while in the middle of the room there is a replication of everything as it was when she was left by the authorities.<br /><br />What make the exhibit even more amazing to me was its place within a larger concept of the Museum's "Activism Season." It is one of four exhibits currently on display that delve into what it means to use art as activism, including <i>Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties</i>, <i>Swoon: Submerged Motherlands</i> that explores environmental issues, and the early work of feminist artist Judy Chicago. Seeing the exhibits connected within this broader theme intensified their impact and allowed the viewer to reflect on the power of art for the purpose of social responsibility.</div><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-8sgdWXuzoig%2FU3tBaAEJsLI%2FAAAAAAAACXY%2FOnsUzPR_cSQ%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0399.JPG&amp;container=blogger&amp;gadget=a&amp;rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8sgdWXuzoig/U3tBaAEJsLI/AAAAAAAACXY/OnsUzPR_cSQ/s1600/IMG_0399.JPG" height="426" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of Weiwei's <a href="http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/10/forever-bicycles-ai-weiwei-toronto/" target="_blank"><i>Forever Bicycles</i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oz7fav5bIOw/U3tA_8PpwyI/AAAAAAAACWU/L82uiXUI9Z0/s1600/IMG_0352.JPG" height="412" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Colored Vases</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div>I highly recommend making your way over to the Brooklyn Museum to catch this wonderful exhibit. Ai Weiwei is there until August 10th!</div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/05/ai-weiwei-at-brooklyn-museum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-4966924650769001420Fri, 16 May 2014 04:09:00 +00002014-05-17T09:37:43.971-07:00On Being Busy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuHAXdOGLaQ/U3WQdxtA6pI/AAAAAAAACUc/dsrGbkUyUOI/s1600/nyc.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nuHAXdOGLaQ/U3WQdxtA6pI/AAAAAAAACUc/dsrGbkUyUOI/s1600/nyc.tiff" /></a></div><br />I write this as an apology--mainly to myself--for being absent in this space longer than I would like to admit. Writing was so simple when I lived in Oregon and found myself with more time, but now that I find myself living in New York I have become too easily entrapped by the pervading busyness that is so acute to city life. Yes, life in New York City is busy. Our work hours are long, the F train has been taking forever lately, and there is always something you could be doing, some event you are missing, and always something you should have done last week that somehow didn't happen. However, I have been realizing lately how easy a crutch the excuse of 'busy' can be to rely on and how easy it then is to disengage from life and lose the intention to do the things you need to do to live fully. 'Being busy' then becomes the default excuse and acceptable justification for why you didn't do something you know you love to do. For me, that is writing.<br /><br />The initial goal of this blog was to share my life, which was being lived 4,000 miles away from my home, with those who were separated by distance and time zones. It was an opportunity to share photos and stories with family and friends far away. Yet along the way it morphed into something much more meaningful to me. This blog became the vehicle by which I was challenged to open my eyes to seek out the art in the every day. It was a push to view the world through a lens of discovery and to search for inspiration in the seemingly mundane, pay attention to the details, and to take note of beauty in everything. It became the motivation to try a recipe, to bring my camera, to seek out new art, and truly, to be an explorer.<br /><i><br /></i>The busy trap of a full time job in a city that never sleeps made me think that I didn't have time and that I didn't have anything to share. I then realized that I was allowing that to cheapen everything I want my life to be about and that only by being intentional with my time can I stop using 'busy' as an excuse.<br /><br />There is a quote by Mary Oliver that comes to mind often:&nbsp;<i>"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." </i>It is with that call to action that I am putting a focus back on what it means to me to live a life inspired.</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2014/05/on-being-busy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-2632790020552552150Thu, 07 Nov 2013 22:12:00 +00002014-05-15T20:30:32.900-07:00bicycleslife lately.oregontravelBack to Portland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G3DaYGXIRcQ/UnusGEDJH5I/AAAAAAAACMQ/LkcnPMVOX5Q/s640/portland8.JPG" height="317" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-agWTwRFRXTM/UnusHMO6fpI/AAAAAAAACMc/DmX_1Xy47cQ/s320/portland0.JPG" height="320" width="319" /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ASduh2rHIc/UnusEvdLE4I/AAAAAAAACLU/aIgS_YtAZbg/s1600/portland00.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ASduh2rHIc/UnusEvdLE4I/AAAAAAAACLU/aIgS_YtAZbg/s320/portland00.JPG" height="320" width="318" /></a><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HulF-6hI_Ms/UnusFw-nqTI/AAAAAAAACL8/EhCruR9sJhk/s320/portland5.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mike and I were lucky to be able to make a trip back to Portland this past Spring. It had been just about a year and a half since we &nbsp;packed up the car to make the move back to the East Coast, after an amazing year of dwelling in this magical corner of the country. We relished being embraced by the surroundings we had so missed over the past year and a half: mountain views, forest roads, tall trees, and misty air. The days filled with bike rides along the water, long hikes to mountain-top picnic spots, drives to the coast, and a good fill of favorite craft ales and local food. It was a healthy dose of nostalgia as we revisited all of the places that had made such an impression on us when we considered ourselves halfway locals. The beauty of the Pacific Northwest is something I will forever be eager to return to.&nbsp;</div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2013/11/back-to-portland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-7913749083505692718Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:20:00 +00002014-05-17T07:35:08.038-07:00oregonphotographs to love.quotation inspiration.simplicity.wisdomSense of Wonder<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-6RxQSYBto2s%2FUnuw_NQwi6I%2FAAAAAAAACM8%2Fw_Y8I2gcXms%2Fs640%2Fportland3.jpg&amp;container=blogger&amp;gadget=a&amp;rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6RxQSYBto2s/Unuw_NQwi6I/AAAAAAAACM8/w_Y8I2gcXms/s640/portland3.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a><br /><br />“What is the value of preserving and strengthening this sense of awe and wonder, this recognition of something beyond the boundaries of human existence? Is the exploration of the natural world just a pleasant way to pass the golden hours of childhood or is there something deeper?<br /><br />I am sure there is something much deeper, something lasting and significant. Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Whatever the vexation or concerns of their personal lives, their thoughts can find paths that lead to inner contentment and to renewed excitement in living.<br /><br />Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature–the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.”<br /><br />–<a href="http://www.rachelcarson.org/">Rachel Carson</a> “The Sense of Wonder”, 1956.</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2013/06/sense-of-wonder.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-1892125484960750884Sat, 22 Jun 2013 18:08:00 +00002014-05-15T20:32:16.005-07:00Charleston<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7FFnegdgws/UcXkEY79s4I/AAAAAAAACBk/9xAoaMp1S4k/s640/IMG_6656.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aqOVG6LB1eQ/UcXkGlhzMmI/AAAAAAAACBs/Q8VijvNgcFo/s320/IMG_6665.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dp8b2f7AogE/UcXkGsTh8NI/AAAAAAAACBw/UJ4buK9k7s8/s320/IMG_6669.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPH_zk-QwYc/UcXkMXkujRI/AAAAAAAACCM/TWcbF_Pm72k/s640/IMG_6716.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-imXbFVAihZ0/UcXkOdlU2iI/AAAAAAAACCU/26dBnsOYGbM/s640/IMG_6719.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--mStKynfXiI/UcXkMJcUdBI/AAAAAAAACCE/e6sUYMyCuLU/s640/IMG_6747.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvLFcikoDgs/UcXkQ_Ovm6I/AAAAAAAACCk/M4o3DX_RGhY/s400/IMG_6777.jpg" height="495" width="312" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6-ryZ6P4U0A/UcXlSXoihEI/AAAAAAAACD8/huYQYngP4gg/s400/IMG_6764.jpg" height="495" width="312" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bndT-wp2EXo/UcXkgIYUnxI/AAAAAAAACDc/jZmdkke2ejY/s640/IMG_6883.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNUuinw6u2Y/UcXkbiPfXSI/AAAAAAAACDE/fCaFAarr2vQ/s640/IMG_6830.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_jEP0gismU/UcXkWzaYjLI/AAAAAAAACC0/WjcSNl3Lu9Q/s400/IMG_6792.jpg" height="495" width="312" /><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc7urMTAq0Q/UcXkV6oMChI/AAAAAAAACCs/jCg20RxNznw/s400/IMG_6852.jpg" height="495" width="312" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AcD2I6IEIWc/UcXkamjvmBI/AAAAAAAACC8/ekRkFdoN1F0/s1600/IMG_6856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AcD2I6IEIWc/UcXkamjvmBI/AAAAAAAACC8/ekRkFdoN1F0/s640/IMG_6856.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CKUgnLcGPgY/UcXkfbjk12I/AAAAAAAACDM/AgIDPbn8hmE/s320/IMG_6910.JPG" height="213" width="320" /><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1-04es-HgA/UcXkfa_2JYI/AAAAAAAACDQ/qw7U4SASw8Q/s320/IMG_6913.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A0-lbV9KGCs/UcXkiyUij4I/AAAAAAAACDs/Ev5JfZgYfc8/s640/IMG_7003.JPG" height="444" width="640" /></div><br />Few cities are as charming, welcoming, and full of character as Charleston, South Carolina. This was a weekend getaway trip last fall that I am still savoring.</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2013/06/charleston.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-2959437285301279152Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:53:00 +00002012-09-30T18:00:09.759-07:00Biking to Red Hook<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CdHhOk5WHVo/UGe9y3xly9I/AAAAAAAAB7s/hYrU3DMqgF8/s640/photo-17.JPG" width="640" /><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6FoUPImdxtU/UGe9Im-4q9I/AAAAAAAAB6c/mk8ETOv1PhM/s640/IMG_6609.JPG" width="640" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm92XWrkY9M/UGe9Q4DjSII/AAAAAAAAB6s/KUwYUXoB7EQ/s320/IMG_6618.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqn-bjG9s00/UGe9WJzuFWI/AAAAAAAAB60/aRkWEUl0lJQ/s320/IMG_6619.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eva3wc-RIAI/UGe9cOnifSI/AAAAAAAAB68/6EZ3RUtN6Ss/s640/IMG_6625.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FPeNGHTP4is/UGe9gwsE7LI/AAAAAAAAB7E/G79BK823zFc/s640/IMG_6628.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T-g1x9tBMXI/UGe9k84mxaI/AAAAAAAAB7M/SMiPyDWVXWk/s640/IMG_6629.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxj_klpqeLE/UGe9pJ-gQhI/AAAAAAAAB7U/5lB1WmegjHA/s640/IMG_6632.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hmFkM8y9zIs/UGe9tQzk-tI/AAAAAAAAB7c/Oygl-n6iGyg/s640/IMG_6642.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEWbb72o0Yk/UGe91axIPpI/AAAAAAAAB70/ob7AtQ8TF9A/s640/photo-18.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDewMOb4V5s/UGe9v7pVtUI/AAAAAAAAB7k/0uZlZtQW0Uc/s640/IMG_6646.JPG" width="640" /></div><br />There are certain meals that immediately bring up the conversation that, should you ever be able to decide what your last meal would be, this would be it. For me it is the chicken wings and sticky rice from <a href="http://www.pokpokny.com/home" target="_blank">Pok Pok</a>--a celebrated Thai restaurant in Portland, OR that has now, to my great excitement, claimed its spot in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The new location does not stray from the original in quality or character and it is by far worth the trip to this quirky Brooklyn neighborhood. Nothing better than a late summer Sunday bike-ride along the East River that concludes in whisky cocktails and last-meal-worthy dishes.&nbsp;</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/09/biking-to-red-hook.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-5425305191988359858Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:16:00 +00002012-08-30T20:17:20.054-07:00Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vH5yMP002EI/UDqnGbuFSjI/AAAAAAAAB1E/E4hmjtNG-Jg/s640/photo-16.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QMm1SNr2XhU/UDrEOTV61GI/AAAAAAAAB2w/S1PGJQ1-KY0/s640/IMG_6412.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dn8ACivd8Nc/UDqlt2NOTPI/AAAAAAAAB00/Jy0qr4lZYM8/s640/IMG_6425.jpg" width="326" /><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9nHrY-6V_pE/UDquHDscqZI/AAAAAAAAB10/SpE-jzD7pVE/s640/IMG_6438.jpg" width="312" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgaWUShhnQM/UDqe0ETnulI/AAAAAAAABxM/WsN4Saz2DtQ/s1600/IMG_6413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgaWUShhnQM/UDqe0ETnulI/AAAAAAAABxM/WsN4Saz2DtQ/s640/IMG_6413.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nwcsAaIfn10/UDqfUck3q5I/AAAAAAAAByE/3NFg6LLt7bg/s640/IMG_6454.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNoER18dVa0/UDqvlpDxs_I/AAAAAAAAB18/0OrFAzECPQA/s320/IMG_6429.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ErpSDPt5TKc/UDqvobgZ-PI/AAAAAAAAB2E/qp1kz17otko/s320/IMG_6477.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzJor4bbp6Q/UDqs9jqAmnI/AAAAAAAAB1s/rOceEDu8TEI/s640/IMG_6472.JPG" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecaFFBSmc28/UDqlZLbR2xI/AAAAAAAAB0k/SpySA2ulDps/s640/IMG_6483.jpg" width="375" /><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eh38dpn0sw4/UDqlbkPfxJI/AAAAAAAAB0s/EtHyCY90STE/s640/IMG_6487.jpg" width="262" /></div><br />This past weekend the wonderful people at <a href="https://twitter.com/GoogleNYC" target="_blank">Google NYC</a> hosted a Farm Fresh event at <a href="http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Grange</a>, the largest rooftop farm in the city. It was a privilege to spend time with Anastasia, the Managing Partner of the farm, and hear her story of <a href="http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com/about-the-grange/" target="_blank">how the one-acre-large farm came to be</a> two years ago. Surrounded by perfect view of Manhattan, we shared ideas on the future of sustainable cities through efforts like green rooftop farms over a meal of fresh greens, local cheese, and heirloom tomatoes.<br /><br />The vision behind Brooklyn Grange is a community-based, financially and environmentally sustainable farm focused on growing delicious, fresh, real foods within the urban environment. It was amazing to see the passion, resourcefulness, and dedicated&nbsp;hard-work&nbsp;that goes into making this farm a reality. Capitalizing on unused space of city rooftops, Brooklyn Grange <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/nyregion/in-rooftop-farming-new-york-city-emerges-as-a-leader.html/?_r=1" target="_blank">and similar initiatives</a> simply make sense if we are to realize more efficient, sustainable, and live-able cities. It was encouraging to see what a <a href="http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com/people/" target="_blank">few dreamers</a> are doing to truly make a lasting difference in this community despite the challenges or difficulties they may come up against.<br /><br />Something about being among chickens, soil, and beds of peppers while the city skyline loomed in the background was a welcomed change of pace. It is fantastic to see growing support for green roofs and urban farming and the potential for these efforts to increase as they become more and more a staple of the city.&nbsp;Being able to spend time and learn from the people championing these efforts---all while sharing in a meal at their table--was quite a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/08/brooklyn-grange-rooftop-farm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-1883963786712077826Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:30:00 +00002013-11-07T07:25:08.219-08:00food musings.meatless mondaynew york cityrecipesRecreating My Favorite Kale Salad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VxMBU0vNX1U/UDkbXia2QxI/AAAAAAAABrk/cE2FOV6t1i8/s400/IMG_6349.JPG" width="266" /><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q34e8__VrRI/UDkbajqDuSI/AAAAAAAABrs/77ZYpRTI2sM/s400/IMG_6408.jpg" width="266" /></div><br />A few weeks ago I met my friend Mary Kate for brunch at <a href="http://www.northernspyfoodco.com/" target="_blank">Northern Spy Food Co</a>, an East Village Slow Food restaurant I had been wanting to try for awhile. We both ordered the Kale Salad that Northern Spy is well-known for and enjoyed it so much I have found myself craving it ever since. In an effort to <a href="http://www.organicauthority.com/health/reasons-kale-is-the-new-beef-nutritious-sustainable.html#s.abhzifa3yayaa" target="_blank">eat more kale</a>, I decided to try to recreate Northern Spy's delicious salad this past weekend.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqwYJPnb4Xo/UDkctYbVS1I/AAAAAAAABr0/XNz85JdcET0/s640/IMG_6347.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-kOcCT3FcU/UDkcvkzJrCI/AAAAAAAABr8/BjYcafTd82M/s320/IMG_6355.jpg" width="320" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7hvrcG4hmD0/UDkcyH4LxeI/AAAAAAAABsE/pj_uBASsQT0/s320/IMG_6359.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q7YYAulE3LM/UDkc6izqafI/AAAAAAAABsc/hmrENYR3Etw/s640/IMG_6367.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rl1JbVrUeNM/UDkc8jetCNI/AAAAAAAABsk/QOB1lN6mUPU/s640/IMG_6376.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umXxMhmJuEY/UDkiYk7se_I/AAAAAAAABuo/V9d-OjLXR5g/s640/IMG_6380.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nULO_VsRPjo/UDkdHd5wQeI/AAAAAAAABtE/4KRQUdMR7_8/s320/IMG_6384.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_ofDZE-eS8/UDkdKGO2UgI/AAAAAAAABtM/vquTN3Pmpwc/s320/IMG_6387.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0HQQ4GIMsv0/UDkdP41DC-I/AAAAAAAABtc/ShR6AL3szNk/s640/IMG_6397.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Northern Spy's Kale Salad, Recreated</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 bunch of organic dinosaur kale, stems removed and chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 medium size butternut squash</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup chopped Gruyere or aged sharp cheddar cheese</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup of almonds</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lemon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Extra-virgin olive oil, salt &amp; pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon organic virgin coconut oil (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-Pressed-Coconut-Unrefined/dp/B0052AHU38" target="_blank">my favorite</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon honey</div><br />1. Pre-heat the oven to 400. Peel the butternut squash, scoop out and discard the seeds, and chop into cubes. Toss the cubes with a little of the extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet (lined with aluminum foil for easy cleanup). Roast in the oven for about 45minutes, tossing every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking.<br /><br />2. Toast the almonds on a baking sheet in the same oven for about ten minutes, making sure to move them around every couple of minutes and watch them so they don't burn. When they are done, let them cool for a couple of minutes and then chop into pieces. In a small bowl, mix the honey and coconut oil and add the toasted almond pieces to coat them. Sprinkle with salt.<br /><br />3. In a large serving bowl, combine the kale, cheese, toasted almonds, and roasted squash. Drizzle with olive oil (about 2 tablespoons), and the juice of one lemon. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss and serve.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRi5Nx3qJn4/UDkdYPcPgwI/AAAAAAAABt8/fDXo8tybQfA/s640/IMG_6404.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><br />I think this would be a great side dish to bring to a picnic, or to eat by yourself for dinner for the next few days like I have been. You can also top with an over-easy egg and have this for brunch. Because that is always a good idea.</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/08/recreating-my-favorite-kale-salad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-2976548211120989117Sun, 26 Aug 2012 13:16:00 +00002012-08-26T18:26:58.269-07:00Attitude of Exploration<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2czDTmB9L0Y/UDodXnSD54I/AAAAAAAABwg/Ev4CXLUKP4Q/s1600/180836_1593125036245_3426765_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2czDTmB9L0Y/UDodXnSD54I/AAAAAAAABwg/Ev4CXLUKP4Q/s640/180836_1593125036245_3426765_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It is wild to realize that it has been a full year since I packed up my car to <a href="http://foralifeinspired.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-road.html" target="_blank">begin the journey back East</a> after having spent a year living in Oregon. Strange to think that the same amount of time I spent out West has now passed yet again. There was something about the timestamp of only having one year in Oregon that made me acutely aware of time slipping away. We only had a certain amount of time, so we lived with that awareness: made sure that we packed it all in, took notice of everything.<br /><div><br /></div><div>There is a danger of slipping into normalcy now that I am comfortable in New York. Normalcy meaning that I have discovered myself in a situation mirroring stability (which I am completely thankful for), but comfort always seems to run the risk of dulling that sense of exploration that I so fully value. &nbsp;I am striving to maintain and fuel that lens of awareness regardless of having a year-deadline or being in one place for an undetermined amount of time. Looking at wherever I am through such a lens regardless if that place is new or old, unfamiliar or fully known; regardless if I am living out of a suitcase or have everything hung up in a closet. A year in New York and it is good to reflect on that reminder: to pack it all in, take notice of everything.&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes." -Marcel Proust</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." -Ansel Adams</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="https://twitter.com/MrMikeNoel" target="_blank">Mike Noel</a>, Multnomah Falls, Oregon February 2011</span></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/08/attitude-of-exploration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-413382726990043946Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:17:00 +00002012-08-25T12:52:18.103-07:00Whole-Grain Pancakes & Blueberry Sauce<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am always on the lookout for recipe ideas perfect for a lazy Sunday morning brunch. Being much more of an egg person, pancakes have never been my go-to until lately, and I think the change of heart stems from one thing: blueberries. Summer hits and I will take every excuse to eat blueberries that I can find.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For this I used buckwheat flour and ground flaxseed for a healthier and lighter take that provides a more delicious and nutty flavor than your average pancake. Topped with a rich homemade blueberry sauce and real maple syrup, this brunch borderlines on decadent. So decadent you'll forget its actually pretty healthy for &nbsp;you. Unless you use as much syrup as I do, then you're on your own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pR-jmI4JjQM/UDEz168JKsI/AAAAAAAABo8/MszyitMwA_E/s640/IMG_6079.JPG" width="640" /><img border="0" height="336" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PB0Q4eB3sv0/UDE1Mb1I38I/AAAAAAAABqE/Mliiji1-Jfg/s640/photo-11.jpg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjIu_-FGxKs/UDEz6ybySnI/AAAAAAAABpM/fJ-X39FXDJE/s640/IMG_6142.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4MGO3wy9xDg/UDGCz7EFEoI/AAAAAAAABrM/Z2hcIFPKaZc/s320/IMG_6205.jpg" width="300" /><img border="0" height="319" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mk-iKMhW9I4/UDGB3IgC36I/AAAAAAAABq8/A9lkNGzT03U/s320/IMG_6159.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="412" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ryau6qQszk/UDE0D_DORnI/AAAAAAAABpk/YW_ozeMrFG0/s640/IMG_6207.JPG" width="640" /><img border="0" height="386" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_Azhqa1dUw/UDE0h0lXBFI/AAAAAAAABp8/7WP7EOKs1mo/s640/IMG_6185.JPG" width="640" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Whole-Grain Pancakes:</b></i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup whole-wheat flour</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">2/3 cup buckwheat flour</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">2 tablespoons ground flaxseed</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">2 tablespoons brown sugar</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 tablespoon baking powder</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 teaspoon salt</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk, if you'd prefer)</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">2 eggs, separated</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">3 tablespoons butter and more as needed for the pan</div></div></div><br />1. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Combine the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.<br />2. Separate the yolks from the egg whites in two separate small bowls. Whisk (or beat if you have an electric mixer) the egg whites until frothy on top, about 3-4 minutes. Add the milk and melted butter to the yolks and whisk for about 2 minutes. <br />3. Add the milk mixture to the large bowl of dry ingredients and stir together a few times. Fold in the egg whites and mix together so that the batter is just about smooth, a few lumps are ok.<br />4. Heat a large skillet and add butter as needed. When it is hot, spoon the batter onto the pan and cook until lightly brown on each side.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Blueberry Sauce:&nbsp;</i></b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 large pint of blueberries (or two small pints)</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon vanilla</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Juice of one lemon</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1 teaspoon brown sugar</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup water</div></div></div><br />Add the ingredients to a small sauce pan and lightly mash the mixture with a wire potato masher a few times. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce thickens a bit. Set to cool.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhuIIBpIBtg/UDE0IqOwSgI/AAAAAAAABps/wzJEzsC4dNo/s1600/IMG_6217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhuIIBpIBtg/UDE0IqOwSgI/AAAAAAAABps/wzJEzsC4dNo/s640/IMG_6217.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/08/whole-grain-pancakes-blueberry-sauce.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-4246191742542846324Sat, 18 Aug 2012 16:30:00 +00002012-08-18T10:56:11.604-07:00Bailey Island, Maine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6naG11M9gks/UC-_6rI8q4I/AAAAAAAABnM/BZ7fzgp1yeE/s640/photo-10.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g0j4yH6YuYE/UC_AFzoJTQI/AAAAAAAABns/HXJPPQ6DPYI/s320/photo-5.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-P6sbanGFc/UC-_7TsFUuI/AAAAAAAABnU/b-fAwRPoNbY/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8V4s6ZG1_i4/UC_ADsf1HaI/AAAAAAAABnk/dPbD39-S7aM/s640/photo-4.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kunWJteNOGE/UC_ALbvCuRI/AAAAAAAABoE/-_jsPq69FpA/s320/photo-8.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wu5FyQYANW8/UC_AKj0GfRI/AAAAAAAABn8/BQtOzxhSefU/s320/photo-7.JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wx3t-qBfF9A/UC-_-HGDPvI/AAAAAAAABnc/n566VotpEPw/s640/photo-3.JPG" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gktGNG4Hc7M/UC_AIuq89xI/AAAAAAAABn0/Y3V97FV0plg/s640/photo-6.JPG" width="640" /></div><br />There are a few places that you cherish for their sense of calm. Without effort, there are places that bring peace and clarity to you by simply being there. Maine has always been one of those places for me. It is the stillness of the water and the chill of the evenings, the rocky coastline and the rich tartness of wild blueberries. With nothing to do but ride bikes by the inlet where the boats rest, climb along the rocks, and look out to the sea--getting up to Maine is something that I look forward to every year.<br /><br />P.S. Did you know that Maine has more coastline than California? Blew my mind.&nbsp;</div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/08/bailey-island-maine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-88019296551610213Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:45:00 +00002012-08-19T17:27:48.744-07:00booksbrooklyncommunitynew york cityWorld Book Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EVtyykGH67w/T5BQoWrtNWI/AAAAAAAABgw/KmfNelLbUkE/s320/photo+(64).JPG" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BKZnag1v6A/T5BQng2Ee7I/AAAAAAAABgo/iDCCCbIENYE/s320/photo+(63).JPG" width="320" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Last night I was walking down my street to pick up a bottle of wine when I saw that my local independent bookstore was hosting an event with Nicole Krauss, the author of one of my favorite books <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-History-Love-A-Novel/dp/0393060349" target="_blank">The History of Love</a>. Add to the list of reasons why I love being back in New York City: stumbling upon wonderful &amp; spontaneous events that make for unexpected evenings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bookstore is an absolute gem, and I'm glad that it seems to be thriving even with the Barnes &amp; Noble that stands not too far down the street. Nicole Krauss was there for a small pre-party leading up to <a href="http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/" target="_blank">World Book Night,</a> which will be next Monday. This year will be the first World Book Night in the United States, after having launched in the U.K. and&nbsp;Ireland last year, and will start an annual celebration of spreading the love of reading. Special editions of a variety of selected favorite books have been printed and will be gifted to people who would not&nbsp;describe&nbsp;themselves as readers. By the end of the night, there will have been one million books given away, in the hopes that those receiving the books will catch the bug.<br /><br />I absolutely love the focus on the person-to-person gifting that is the foundation of this initiative. There is something truly special about someone gifting a book--I find that books are always my favorite gifts from others because there always seems to be more meaning behind the selection of a certain title.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The History of Love joins a fantastic <a href="http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/wbn2012-the-books/see-all-30-books" target="_blank">list of books</a>&nbsp;chosen specifically for Monday's event. Nicole Krauss read a section from the book last night (while we enjoyed wine &amp; cheese from the wonderful <a href="http://communitybookstore.net/" target="_blank">Community Bookstore</a> staff) and I was reminded of how much I love the characters and how she so brilliantly intersects their lives together. I would definitely recommend adding it to your&nbsp;book-list.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Check out <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/wbnamerica" target="_blank">World Book Night</a> and join in by giving away a book you love to someone next Monday!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also, see<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/03/a-slow-books-manifesto/254884/#.T4RTq6Crso4.twitter" target="_blank"> this great article in The Atlantic</a> on a Slow-Books Manifesto.</div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/04/world-book-night.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-685459268405209141Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:02:00 +00002014-05-17T07:30:30.853-07:00Spring in New York<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Px-fMGMv54/T4ojIzltsfI/AAAAAAAABeA/IorG0yR-SmQ/s640/IMG_5945.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jy31Spu3LY0/T4ojlhr8IoI/AAAAAAAABe4/zmtq38VfRfM/s640/IMG_5995.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSR5IIg2vtY/T4ojYdGiw1I/AAAAAAAABeg/qruw5o3fjRE/s640/IMG_5969.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yyJBRRZwNSo/T4ojPKco6wI/AAAAAAAABeQ/HuAsDc5IT84/s640/IMG_5957.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7k7KACjgDQA/T4oj1epUsEI/AAAAAAAABfY/j3Gh7mwTrxs/s640/IMG_6017.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TLvHJzOCouQ/T4oj4bZo0xI/AAAAAAAABfg/y01jievCOMk/s640/IMG_6024.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Having always considered Fall my favorite season, this current Spring may be changing my mind. Virginia Woolf wrote “I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.” Perhaps that's what it is? Getting older? I suppose it could be.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I took my first class with <a href="http://brooklynbrainery.com/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Brainery</a> last week on Tree Identification. It was a great experience mainly because (besides really loving trees) I love the whole idea behind the Brainery: shared knowledge. The woman who ran the class was not only knowledgeable about forestry, she was <i>passionate </i>about trees. It had no connection to her day job in the least, it was instead her hobby and passion, the class giving her an outlet to share with people like me who have an interest but no knowledge. &nbsp;The strongest impression the class made on me was exactly that--I was thankful to participate in the community that exists among people who have knowledge to share and those eager to soak it up. It is such a beautiful idea and celebrates the appreciation of all that we can learn from other people.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other thing I took away from the class was that the first step of identifying a tree is to take note of its details. Clues like bark and the pattern of its leaves speak to what type of tree it is, however, I'm more focused on the first part: take note. Its easy to lose sight of the nature surrounding you in a big city. Something about the buildings and the people and all of the activities to get lost in doesn't put 'nature' and 'New York City' in the same sentence. However, by seeking it out and taking note of the details, it is amazing the sense of nature that you can feel here. It takes a bit more effort than being confronted with trees everywhere you turn in a place like Oregon, sure, but it is there if you have the intention to seek it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The trees that line the streets of New York are survivors. The less-than-ideal conditions they live in make them pretty impressive. The parks that dot the city become each their own small oasis for a clear mind. And now--with everything in bloom and bursting with color--is a wonderful time to stroll the park, visit the gardens and take note of the details of nature that exist at every turn. I think that is the most wonderful aspect of Spring: &nbsp;the ability it allows for us to find ourselves again in the beauty of the world around us.&nbsp;</div><br /><b>sweet spring is your<br />time is my time is our<br />time for springtime is lovetime<br />and viva sweet love --e.e.cummings</b></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/04/spring-in-new-york.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-5621430025918426749Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:19:00 +00002012-03-26T08:19:09.315-07:00the world.Run for World Vision<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QW6fPsaRlwY/T3CEMbCEb6I/AAAAAAAABZc/4ckiAJKUpZY/s320/race2.jpg" width="320" /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9FDlFB6WxzA/T3CEL3ahWqI/AAAAAAAABZU/GX3Pe76nguY/s320/race1.jpg" width="320" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This Saturday we ran the half marathon in Queen's Flushing Meadows Park to benefit well programs in Africa through World Vision. We couldn't have lucked out with a better day to run, and the course is absolutely beautiful (and relatively flat, thank goodness). The Park is famous for holding the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair--the two towers that still remain standing (and that made a debut in Men in Black) gave the feel that you were running through a movie set.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was really excited to beat my two-hour goal and was so glad to be a part of such a great race. The energy of the day is amazing, especially as so many are running for a cause they believe in. There is still time to donate if you would like to do so (every little bit helps)! All of the money goes directly towards clean water initiatives through World Vision. They are a wonderful organization and well-acclaimed for bringing authentic and sustainable change where it is needed most. <a href="http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf/maindocs/3F50B250D66B76298825736400663F21?opendocument" target="_blank">Check them out</a> to learn more and find my Personal Fundraising page <a href="http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR?px=1040761&amp;fr_id=1551&amp;pg=personal" target="_blank">here</a>. Hope you had a great weekend!</div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/03/run-for-world-vision.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-9090266837595960063Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:27:00 +00002012-08-26T06:36:54.954-07:00brooklyncommunityfood musings.life lately.new york citysimplicity.Gatherings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ta4cTNhIhe8/T0uRiXdJOuI/AAAAAAAABU0/6x_h0fwsuAA/s640/kinfolk1.jpg" width="640" /><br /><br /><i><b>Food is our common ground, a universal experience. -James Beard</b></i></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A few weeks ago I had the great opportunity to attend the<a href="http://www.kinfolkmag.com/dinners/" target="_blank"> Brooklyn Kinfolk Dinner</a> at the beautiful <a href="http://www.thegreenbuildingnyc.com/" target="_blank">Green Building</a> in Carroll Gardens. I have been pouring over the beauty of <a href="http://www.kinfolkmag.com/" target="_blank">Kinfolk Magazine</a> since its debut and I could not be more&nbsp;enthralled&nbsp;with the beauty of its composition and the core of its Manifesto. The whole concept of Kinfolk surrounds the notion of the beauty, worth, and importance of small gatherings. The values of simplicity, community, food, and art are the resounding thread through all of what Kinfolk produces--I could not be more&nbsp;enamored with the entire project and excited by how sincerely it resonates with me.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Thus I couldn't have been more excited to attend the Brooklyn Kinfolk Dinner. The Green Building&nbsp;is such a beautiful space--with its exposed beam high ceiling and lovely brick walls--and was perfect for the event. We enjoyed unique cocktails and a delicious spread of food from local artisans. It was an absolute pleasure to meet such a wide array of talented and&nbsp;like-minded&nbsp;people and the privilege of the event was truly the opportunity for great conversations.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXdeLIvK6rc/T0uRjP928sI/AAAAAAAABU8/6KEqPts4kRE/s1600/kinfolk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GXdeLIvK6rc/T0uRjP928sI/AAAAAAAABU8/6KEqPts4kRE/s640/kinfolk2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been so excited by Kinfolk, the<a href="http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php" target="_blank"> Slow Food movemen</a>t, and similar initiatives for the values that they promote--a real&nbsp;resurgence&nbsp;of a back-to-basics view on food and celebrating the act of gathering together. I truly feel that food has such a power and wonderful ability to foster community. By partaking in a meal together, savoring its details and enjoying both the process of its creation and the thought behind it, there is a unique experience created. Fully realizing and appreciating the value of this shared experience and the ability it allows for us to slow down in our busy lives to enjoy community and conversation is a beautiful thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">One of my favorite events to plan and host are potlucks to bring friends together to partake in exactly the above. This past weekend my roommates and I hosted a Sunday Dinner and invited whoever could make it over to our new spot in Park Slope. It ended up being the three of us and five of our good friends, enjoying wine, bread &amp; pesto spreads, and a roasted chicken with cous-cous and salad. It was &nbsp;such fun to sit down and tell stories over food--spreading the night out with each course of the meal. Overall, the evening was the perfect conclusion to the weekend and something that will definitely become a regular&nbsp;occurrence.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are looking for an opportunity to get people together--do it. Set up a potluck and send out an invite to a couple of solid people you know. Choose a meal to make with friends and prepare it together. Gather at a table and enjoy each other's company. Tell stories and ask topic questions and spend time soaking up the community that exists around you. Simple pleasures, quality people, and treasured time... can't go wrong.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,</b></i><br /><b><i>&nbsp;it would be a merrier world.&nbsp;</i><i>- J.R.R.Tolkien</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jD1QUrpYBSc/T1553q7uLnI/AAAAAAAABVc/YvH1ag5sh60/s400/Image+(1).jpg" width="300" /><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3bkyrcyJus/T15ZMEHhr-I/AAAAAAAABVM/fKjROe-ClLc/s400/potluck.jpg" width="300" /></div><div><i></i></div></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/03/gatherings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670842610746156745.post-4824208474261560191Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:57:00 +00002012-02-14T13:19:36.680-08:00Love.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6S4g6xi3zGk/TzqD2NsGYxI/AAAAAAAABUo/tOHq5IqM-70/s1600/sun.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6S4g6xi3zGk/TzqD2NsGYxI/AAAAAAAABUo/tOHq5IqM-70/s400/sun.tiff" width="400" /></a><br /><br />“Even after all this time<br />The Sun never says to the Earth, <br /><br />"You owe me." <br /><br />Look what happens <br />With a love like that, <br />It lights the whole sky.” -Hafiz<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/edenvictoria/5614516505/sizes/z/in/photostream/" target="_blank">victor &amp; alice</a></span></span></div></div>http://www.foralifeinspired.com/2012/02/love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mary Shouvlin)0